For most people, Ayaan is recognized for his online music content. Acting, however, was never part of his plan. A random call from filmmaker Nag Ashwin’s office changed that trajectory, eventually leading him to become the lead of Sing Geetham, veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao’s upcoming musical drama releasing on June 11. In a conversation with Hyderabad Times, Ayaan opens up about stumbling into cinema and working under a legendary filmmaker.
‘I Was Surprised to Learn I Was the Lead’
Ayaan laughs when recalling the audition process. “I kept attending workshops and rehearsals, thinking they were still part of the audition process. I didn’t realise those sessions were actually preparation for the role after I’d already been selected,” he says. The surprise grew even bigger when he discovered whose film he was working on.
“One day, I saw a script on a table that said ‘Singeetham Cinema’. I assumed someone had misspelled Sangeetham because it was a musical,” he recalls. “That’s when the executive director told me it was Singeetham sir’s film and that I was the lead. I went home and couldn’t stop screaming.”
‘Prathap Is the Opposite of Who I Am’
In the film, Ayaan plays Prathap, a gambler who often puts self-interest above everything else. “That’s completely opposite to who I am, which made the role tricky,” he says. Instead of relying solely on his own interpretation of the character, Ayaan focused on understanding how Singeetham envisioned Prathap.
“I was constantly trying to find the balance between my understanding of the character and the way the director saw him,” he says. Ayaan adds that every character in the film is flawed, just like all of us. “If even one person walks out seeing themselves differently, I think the film has done its job.”
‘This Film Has Changed Everything for Me’
Beyond acting, Ayaan says the experience transformed the way he views life itself. “It has completely changed me. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and given me a different perspective on life,” he says.
Ayaan adds that one of the biggest takeaways from the journey was watching two acclaimed filmmakers at work. “The biggest thing I learned from Singeetham sir and Nag Ashwin sir is humility,” he says.
— Sanjana Pulugurtha
